Elizabeth Agius

Predicting Early Adolescent Substance Use: Do Risk Factors Differ Depending on Age of Onset?

This study was designed to identify different risk models associated with non-use, first use, and prior substance use among a group of early adolescents. A total of 582 students completed a self-report questionnaire at the beginning and end of sixth grade. Nine predictor variables were used in discriminant function analysis to classify adolescents into three groups. Five variables distinguished non-users (never used by the end of sixth grade) and new users (first used during sixth grade) from prior users (first used before sixth grade). Prior users were found to have weaker decision making skills, more susceptibility to peer pressure, more negative perceptions of school, less confidence in their skills, and an increased likelihood of being male. A second function indicated that new users were similar to prior users in that they had less positive peer relations, were more likely to come from single parent families, and had less knowledge about alcohol and drugs than did non-users. The similarities and differences between new and prior users have implications for future research and prevention programming.

Enhancing Aging Services through Evidence-Based Health Promotion: A Training for Service Providers

During the next several decades, increasing numbers of older Americans will suffer chronic illnesses and many will face challenges due to growing racial and economic health disparities. Agencies serving older adults need to respond by creating and promoting evidence-based health promotion (EBHP) practices to address the growing diversity among older adults in urban areas. One such agency, the Detroit Area Agency on Aging recently partnered with the Wayne State University School of Social Work to conduct an EBHP educational program for service providers. The educational program used information from the National Council on Aging Center for Healthy Aging, the reach, effectiveness/efficacy, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) model, and the National Wellness Institute. Survey respondents found that the interaction with other participants was beneficial and helped them to conceptualize EBHP as a new way of thinking about service delivery. Participants learned practical lessons about implementing a training program on evidence-based practice and additional steps are offered to increase the uptake of EBHP practices by older adult service providers.